Rocket Man

Redditor “Neither-nor” dug up this impressive shot of Max Valier testing the rocket car he developed under the patronage of Fritz von Opel at AVUS in January of 1930.

Although Opel lost interest in the project, Valier carried on. This smaller image is from a different test of a continuation model (and may represent Max’s shift from solid to liquid fueled rockets) run in April. Ultimately his interest in rocketry would claim his life a month later when an experimental rocket exploded on the test bench.